Tubing control head



March 1, 1938. 5 MGLAGAN 2,109,546

TUBING CONTROL HEAD Filed Nov. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GEORGE E M LHGAN WIQd-Mif ATTORNEYS.

March 1, 1938. G, E, MC A AN 2,109,546

TUBING CONTROL HEAD Filed Nov. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 IN V EN TOR.

GEORGE E. MLQQQN vPatented Mar. 1, r

. UNITED STATES- PATENT oi-"rice I TUBING CONTROL- HEAD George E. McLagan, Los Angeles, Calii'., assignor to Abegg & Reinhold Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 20, 1938, Serial No. 111,838

fi Claims. (Cl. 186-15) This invention relates to oil wellequipment and particularly pertains to a tubing control head, and is especially concerned with structures or the type shown in my co-pending application 5 filed June l8, 1930, and entitled "tubing blowout preventer. In the operation of oil wells it often dccurs that it is necessary to elevate the pump or drill tubing, and in view of the fact that an excessive amount of oil and gas pressure is present within the well it is diiiicult to remove the tubing from the well casing without causing oil and gas to spurt from the casing with a resulting waste and the possibility of flre.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide means automatically operating and disposed at the upper end of a well casing through which tubing may be elevated and which structure embodies a tubing head which .will automatically seal the mouth of the well casing around the tubing, irrespective 01' any difierence in. the diameter of the tubing and its couplings and while permitting the tubing to be withdrawn at a rapid rate of speed.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a head adapted to be mounted upon the upper end of a well casing and which head is formed with automatically expanding and contracting packing members which will accommodate well tubingand couplings of a desired dimeter, and which will automatically form a seal around the tubing and the couplings, irrespective of variations in diameter, and while the tubing is being continuously elevated from the-well.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section through one form of my invention showing the packing structure as acting upon the tubing.

Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section through the device shown in Fig. 1 showing a tubing'collar ll passing through the. packer 2|.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through the casing head as'seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and'as showing the construction of the packing.

Fig. 4 is a view in central vertical section showing-a' difl erent i'orm of easing head in which fluidi {'55 Flg." 'l is aviewin structure 20 is irusto-conical in shape and com- 1 formed with a groove 22in one of its longitudipacking structure and disclosing the manner in which its elements interlock and which is provided to cooperate with guides within the hous- ;ing of the packing head.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5

- l0 indicates a well casing at the upper end of from the well. This well stem provides a. plurality of sections connected by couplings l3. It will be understood that the couplings are of larger diameter than the stem. Slips ll-are shownin Fig. 1 as being provided to grip the stem 15 and prevent it from lowering into the well. The tubing head comprises a base flange Iii which is hereshown as having a hub portion internally threadedto receivethe upper end oi the well casing Hi. The flange portion l6 receives a cylin'drieal body member 'I I which is secured thereto by bolts l8 at its lower end. The cylindrical body member is formed with a downwardly and inwardly tapering packing bore I9 which receives apacking structure 20'. The packingpises a plurality of packing segments 2i. These :segments are here shown as each representing substantially 01 a circle and as each being 30 naledges, and a tongue 23 in its opposite longitudinal edge, whereby the contiguous edges of the segments will at all times interlock; Each of the segments is provided upon its upper end with a wear member 24 and each segment is provided-35 along its side with .a dove-tailed groove late 25' 'walloi in the packing body I 'I is consid ly greater 40 than the length of the packing me r II and' thus accommodates a packing cup I whichis' formed with an outturne'd flange 28 extending upwardly along the inclined face of the bore [8' and with an intumed body portion '29 seated within an annular groove 30 of a pressure sleeve II. The sleeve ii is formed with an outer annular shoulder-l2 which provides a seat for a helical spring 33, circumscribing the sleeve and extending upwardly therealong to engage a pack- "ing ring 34 which, is formed with a semi-circular face 3! adapted to press into an-annular groove 86 01' a resilient packing ring 31. The pressure sleeve ll extends upwardlybeyond the top oi' body I! and into a cylindrical housing 38 which is bolted to the upper end of the packing body I! by bolts 39 and is disposed in longitudinal alignment therewith. The cylindrical housing 38 is formed with a bore 40 having a an annular inturned collar 4| at a point midway its length. This collar has a central opening 42 therethrough of a diameter to permit the upper end of the pressure sleeve 3| to project through the opening and to be engaged by a pressure cross head 43. This cross head is formed with a cylindrical portion 44 which telescopes 'within the upper end of the bore 4|! and rests with its lower end against the upwardly projecting face of the pressure sleeve 3|. :The cross head 43 is shown in Figs. land 2 as being formed with cross head bolts 45 which extend downwardly through opening 46 in a flange 41 formed around and projecting outwardly from the upper edge of the cylindrical member 38.

As here shown expansion springs 48 are disposed. around the downwardly projecting portions of the bolts 45 and are interposed between the flange 41 and a washer 49, one of which is carried on each of the bolts and is held in position by a nut 50. It will thus-be evident that the cross head 43 and its extension 44 will be forcibly held against the upper end of the pressure sleeve 3| due to the expansive action of the expansion springs 48. This action will tend to continuously exert a downward force upon the upper end of the packing unit 20 and assist the spring 33 in holding the packing unit firmly against its seat and resisting the gas pressure which may be exerted within the well, and in an effort to lift the packing unit and' to cause it to expand and move from contact and a sealing position with relation to the drill stem IE, or its couplings. As an added precaution to hold the packing unit 2|] upon its seat and to expand the packing cup 21 against the side wall of the bore l9, it may be desirable to connect the well casing ID with the compartment formed by the bore 40 within the cylindrical member 38 and at a point above the packing cup 21. This is accomplished by securing a pipe 5| through the wall of the casing l0 and leading it outwardly and then connecting it with a pipe 52 which may be interrupted at a point along its length by a valve 53. A pipe 54 is connected with the upper end of the pipe 52 and is secured in communication with the compartment formed by the bore 43 so that the well pressure will be equalized on each side of the packing unit and will be to a great extent neutralized.

In the vform of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that instead of relying upon the expansive action of springs 33 and 48 to hold the packing members on their seats and to resist the internal pressure of gas within the well casing, fluid pressure means is provided and may be controlled at the option of the operation. This structure includes plunger rods 55 secured tothe cross head 43 in substitution for the bolts 45. The lower ends of these rods are fitted with a plunger 56 which are reciprocably mounted within cylindrical bores 51. Flu d inlet ports 58 are formed through the walls of the cylinders at their upper end and fluid inlet ports 59 are formed through the walls of the cylinders through their lower end. These ports communicate with manifold pas'sagewaysfi'll and 6|, respectively, which are controlled by a twoway valve 52 to which fluid under pressure is delivered through a pipe 53. The valves are formed with circumferential ports 84 and 65 which may be alternately brought to register with the cylindrical ports 58 and 59, and will alternately reg ister with an exhaust 66 through which fluid in the inactive side of the cylinder may be exhausted as the plunger moves to force it out.

In operation of the present invention it is to be understood that a stem I! has been passed into a; well casing and that it is the desire of the operator to elevate the stem from the casing at as high a rate of speed as possible, but without attendant leakage of oil and gas. The stem is elevated by any suitable means and will slip through the packing 20 while the packing firmly embraces-the stem and fits tightly within thev tapered bore IS. The packing 20 will also be held in this seated position due to the expansive action of springs 33 and.48. When variations in the diameter of the stem occur such as would be the case when an enlarged coupling passes through the packing, the upper edge of the coupling will strike the lower edge of the packing unit 20 and will tend to elevate this unit at the same time causing its segments to move outwardly and upwardly along the inclined face of the bore l9, and as held and.

' directed by the dove-tailed grooves 25 in the packing segments and the dove-tailed ribs 26 along the walls of the bore. This action will be against the expansive action of .springs 33 and 48. This will cause force to be exerted against the lower end of the pressure sleeve 3| and will cause compression of the spring 33 and movement of the cross head 43 against the expansive action of springs 48. The packing members will be retracted until they have expanded sufiiciently to form an opening through which the enlarged coupling may pass, after which they will be forced downwardly and inwardly by the springs to engage the wall of the tubing and seal it with rela: tion to the tubing control head.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 of the drawings, the pressure exerted by the packing may be optionally controlled by the operator, by the manipulation of the valve 62 and the amount of pressure imposed upon the upper faces of the plungers 56. When it is desired to relieve this pressure and thus discontinue the gripping action of the packing unit, and its effect in sealing the tube within the casing, the valve is manipulated to cause pressure to be exerted upon the lower side of the plungers 56 which will tend to raise the cross head 43 and permit the packing unit to be held down only by the spring 33. In conditions of excessive pressure it may be desirable to utilize the pressure on the fluidwit-hin the wel. to hold the packing in position, and this is accomplished by opening valve 53 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings andin permitting the fluid to by-pass so that it will exert a pressure upon the upper end of the packing structure. This pressure will act to expand the packing cut 21 in the tapered bore and will also act to force the packing downwardly against the pressure of the fluid within the well.

It will thus be seen that the structure here disclosed provides simple means adapted to be readily mounted upon the upper end of a well casing;

invention, as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tubing control head for well casing, comprising a housing structure adaptedto be-mountseat permitting the segments to move radially.

with relation to their common axisand move longitudinally of the tapered face of the seat,

and spring means tending to force the packing segments downwardly along the tapered face of the seat and hold them in intimate contact with the surface of the tubing extending therethrough,

a packing cup carried at the upper end of said.

packing, and means for conducting fluid under pressure from the casing into the housing whereby it will act against said packing cup and the upper end of the packing to force the cup outwardly against the tapered seat of the housing and to force the packing downwardly to a sealing position.

2. A tubing control head for well casing, com prising a housing structure adapted to be mounted upon the upper end of a well casing and from whichcasing a well tubing is to be withdrawn, a downwardly and inwardly tapering packing seat within the housing and through which the tubing v extends, a frusto-conical segmental packing member adapted to rest upon said seat, and to embrace the tubing extending therethrough, said packing member including a plurality of interlocking segments, means whereby the individual segments will interlock with the tubing seat permitting the segments to move radially with relation to their common axis and move longitudinally of the tapered face of the seat,-and spring means tending to force the packing segments downwardly along the tapered face of the seat and hold them in intimate contact with the surface of the 'tubing/ extending therethrough, a pressure sleeve through which the tubing extends and which sleeve rests against the upper end of the packing unit, and auxiliary pressure means for holding said sleeve in position. I

3. A tubing control head for well casing, comprising a housing structure adapted to be mounted upon the upper end of a well casing and from which casing a well tubing is to be withdrawn,

a downwardly andinwardly tapering packing seat' within the housing and through which theftub- 1 ing extends, a frusto-conical segmental packing member adapted to rest upon said seat,.and to embrace the tubing extending therethrough, said packing member including a plurality of' interlocking segments, means whereby the individual segments will interlock with the tubing seat permitting the segments to move radially with relation to their common axis and move longitu-.

dinally of the tapered face of the seat, and spring means. tending to force the packing segments downwardly along the tapered face of theseat and hold them in intimate contact with the surface of the tubing extending therethrough, a pressure sleeve through which the tubing extends and which sleevev rests against the upper end of the packing unit, and fluid pressure means optionally controlled to exert pressure upon the sleeve and to thus increase the pressure upon the packing member.

4. A tubing control head for wellcasing comprising a housing structure adapted to be mounted-upon the upper end of a well casing and through which a tubing member extends, a tapered-segmental packing within the housing and adapted to circumscribe the tubing extending therethrough a tapered seat within the housing for the packing which seat tapers. upwardly and outwardly so that the packing will recede as a coupling of the tubing is drawn upwardly and encounters the packing, a sleeve extending downwardly into the housing and resting against the upper ends of the packing segments,.yieldable means holding said sleeve in constant contact its free edge flaring upwardly and outwardly to contact with the tapered packing seat, and means for delivering fluid under pressure into the housing'and above said cup packing whereby to force the sleeve downwardly to hold the packing segments in packing relation to the tubing extending therethrough and the seat for said packing. 5. A tubing control head for well casing comprising a housing structure adapted to be mounted upon the upper end of a well casing and through which a tubing member extends, a tapered segmental packing within the housing and adapted to circumscribe the tubing extending therethrough, a tapered seat within the housing for the packing which seat tapers upwardly and outwardly so that the packing will recede as a coupling of the tubing is drawn upwardly and encounters the packing, a sleeve extending downwardly into the housing and resting against the upper ends of the packing segments, yieidable means holding said sleeve in constant contact with the upper end of said segments, a cup packing carried upon the lower end of said sleeve with its free'edge flaring upwardly and outwardly to contact with the tapered packing seat, and means for by-passing fluid from the 'well easing into the housing and against the'cup packing carried by the sleeve whereby the pressure of this fluid will act against the cup packing and the sleeve to force'the sleeve downwardly and hold the segmental packing in its packing position by a fluid pressure- I GEORGE E. McLAGAN. 

